In past blog posts, we’ve touched on the importance of various aspects of preparing for your book’s release, from establishing an online presence to hiring the right professionals to make your book stand out. One of the final touches in the pre-production process is to seek out testimonials to include in the front matter of your book.

Testimonials are written endorsements of your book, usually provided by authors or other well-known experts in your field. They add credibility to your book and brand.

After you’ve completed your final draft of the manuscript, you should begin reaching out to fellow authors to request endorsements. Ideally, testimonials should come from authors in your field, and the more well-known the author, the better.

And while you may think that big-name authors are untouchable, think again. Smart authors know that endorsing a book enhances their marketing efforts since they gain added visibility with your readers by having their name and credentials appear in your book. Just remember that it never hurts to ask. All they can do is say no, but they just might surprise you and say yes!

You can seek testimonials electronically or via good, old-fashioned postal mail. Contact information for even the biggest authors is almost always available. Search their websites or reach out via social media mail. The key to getting the attention of well-known authors is to show up like a pro. Avoid telling them your whole life story and never beg or suck up. Also, avoid ranting about how this is your first book, you’re self-publishing, and you have no idea if anyone will ever buy your work—that will NOT inspire good results!

Here’s a sample request for an endorsement that you can send out via e-mail:

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Hi <author name>,

I loved your book <title> and found it enlightening because…<briefly explain>

I have a new book coming out this winter: <title> (published by <publishing company name>). It is about <brief description, just two or three sentences>. I am in the process of gathering endorsements for the jacket. Would you consider providing a testimonial? I would be happy to send you sample chapters or the entire manuscript for review—whatever you prefer.

Thanks very much for your consideration!

Warm wishes,

<your name>

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Note that this letter starts out by complimenting the author’s work. This isn’t sucking up; it’s demonstrating that you are a fan of their work and creates an instant rapport (flattery will get you everywhere!). Mentioning the publishing company also adds credibility unless you are using one of the big box self-publishing houses. If that’s the case, omit the publishing company information. The unfortunate reality is that inexpensive publishing solutions will be recognizable and an author with a major press behind him will not be impressed. Also, write two or three of the most compelling sentences you can muster about your book and why it is great.

What Happens After You Reach Out

You can expect to receive responses within a few days. Some authors may ask for the full manuscript, though most simply want to see a table of contents and a few sample chapters so they know you can write. The vast majority will not take time to read your book from cover to cover. Do not take this personally!

Some may ask for you to send over some sample testimonials. That’s right, they will ask you to write a few examples that they can choose from! They may change a word or two around, but for the most part you will be crafting your own endorsement. This is a reality in this business.

The bottom line is that endorsements do enhance the credibility of a book, so don’t be afraid to pursue them with gusto. Make a list of ten to twenty authors and start asking. With any luck, you’ll end up with so many testimonials that you’ll need to add a page or two to the beginning of your book to accommodate them!

Download Our Most Popular Reports

New Book: The Nonfiction Book Publishing Plan

Recent Blog Posts

Book reviews are essential because they help potential readers make a purchase decision. Sending out review copies for potential review is something every author should include in their marketing plans. The more people who know about your book, the better the chance of building word of mouth buzz. Plan to send out 50 to 500 […]

Are you ready to add more revenues to your author business? Here are the top ten ways authors can earn more money. 1. Coaching/Consulting Becoming a coach or consultant is often a logical step for authors who want to help others. Building a program based on content from your book can become a wonderful revenue […]

Nearly all of the major media outlets have websites with easy access to contact information for reporters, editors, and producers. In fact, they make it almost ridiculously easy to find email information because the reality is that they need story ideas! While this information is easy to locate, the research can take time. Keep reading… […]

Member of the Week

Author Name: Steven Howard Book Title: Better Decisions. Better Thinking. Better Outcomes. How to go from Mind Full to Mindful Leadership Synopsis Too many decisions are being made by leaders and employees who are impacted by stress, overloaded brains, tiredness, and unregulated emotions. All of these are impacting their decision-making processes, cognitive abilities, and the outcomes […]

Join Our Mailing List

Looking for something?

Book reviews are essential because they help potential readers make a purchase decision. Sending out review copies for potential review is something every author should include in their marketing plans. The more people who know about your book, the better the chance of building word of mouth buzz. Plan to send out 50 to 500 […]

Are you ready to add more revenues to your author business? Here are the top ten ways authors can earn more money. 1. Coaching/Consulting Becoming a coach or consultant is often a logical step for authors who want to help others. Building a program based on content from your book can become a wonderful revenue […]

Nearly all of the major media outlets have websites with easy access to contact information for reporters, editors, and producers. In fact, they make it almost ridiculously easy to find email information because the reality is that they need story ideas! While this information is easy to locate, the research can take time. Keep reading… […]

Some authors do not sell to non-retail buyers because they are intimidated by corporate marketing professionals. If that is the case with you, start small. Begin your non-retail selling journey by calling on buyers in small companies. These businesses approximately 80% of all companies in the U.S. and they have the same needs as their […]

I’ve been saying for years that though press releases have long been the standard way to pitch media, they aren’t always the best way. You should know that reporters, editors, and producers NEED story ideas. In other words, they need you as much as you need them. Yes, it’s perfectly okay to reach out to […]

Should you speak for free? Yes – if you do it in front of the right people who are in the right room for the right reason… And along the way to answering this question in more detail, you’re also getting your 80-20 Speaking-as-Marketing strategy so let’s dig in… Research from professional services marketing firm Rain Today shows […]